Diving swing



Oct. 15, 1929.- c. E. HOPPES DIVING SWING Filed March 19, 1927 INVENTOR.

M A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. I-IOPPES, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE EVERVJEAR MANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A GURPORATION QF OHIO DIVING SWING Application filed March 19,

This invention relatesto play-ground apparatus, it particularly relating to what is known as a diving swing.

The swing forming the subject-matter of this invention is one which is designed to be installed at the edge of a body of water, and sometimes in the shallow portion of the water so that a person may swing himself out over the water and leap or dive from the swing into the deeper parts of the water; the apparatus also having a ladder. with a platform at its upper end for supporting the swing seat so that the person using'the swing may have access thereto and seat himself on the swing seat a portion of the platform being hinged and normally held by a manually operated detent so that after the per son has been seated in the swing seat the detent may be operated to free the swing from the platform.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a swing of this character which will be simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a hinged swing support, together wit-h simple and effective means for holding the support in supporting position, and manually operated means for releasing the same by the person seated in the swing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of swing constructed to eliminate lateral motion of the swingbut ermi'ttin the swin seat to maintain a horil a c p pear from the accompanying description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the improvements, showing theplatform or support in, supporting position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the ladder and platform showing 192?. Serial No. 176,774.

portion of the platform in tilted the lower ends of which are secured to the cross member of the base, and 3 are a series of braces for the swing support which extend from the upper portion thereof to the base. The swing seat is indicated at 4, this seat being suspended by a pair of tubular rods 5 from the upper cross-member 2 of the support 2. The upper ends of these rodsare rigidly connected by a spacing bar 7. The seat 1 is connected to the lower ends of the rods 5 as follows: Secured to the lower end of each rod is a two-part sleeve 8, bolts 9 passing through the members of the sleeve and through the rod serving to secure the parts firmly together. The lower ends of the two members of this sleeve are enlarged and have integrally formed aligned interior A tubular inwidth an opening to receive a short cylindrical head 12 pivoted on abolt 12 passing transversely through the seat. The upper portion of the head is slotted to receive an eye 13 on one end of a link 13, the eye'being pivoted on a bolt 12 secured to the head The other end of the link is also formed with an eye 13 which encircles the bosses 10. This connection serves to support the seat/1 in a way to permit it to oscillate relatively to the rods 5 to thereby maintain the seat in horizontal position, and also, in connection with the rigid bar 7 serves to prevent sidewise or lateral swinging movement of the rods and seat. 1

A ladder is shown at 14 the upper portion of which is provided with a stationary platform 15, a hand rail 16 being preferably provided for the convenience of the persons using the ladder. The lower end of this ladder has its base fixed to the apex of the main base 1 and brace rods 17 extending from the base 1 to the upper portion of the ladder serve to support it in an inclined position. Hinged to the forward edge of the stationary platform 15, which is preferably of metal, is a metallic plate 18, the hinged connection being made by providing the stationary platform 15 with integral ears 19 and the plate 18 with integral cars 20 through which is passed a pintle or pin 21. Securely connected to the plate 18 by bolts 23 is a wooden platform 24: which forms the tiltable swing-seat support. This tiltable support 24 is held in horizontal position by a detent consisting of a flat bar 25 which is pivotally connected to cars 26 on the under side of the plate 18 and has at its free end a shoulder 27 adapted to engage the lower cross portion 29 of a bifurcated downwardly projecting member 29 which has its upper end provided with a flange 29 which is bolted to downwardly projecting lugs 30 formed integrally with the under side of the stationary platform 15. Secured to the detent 25 is a downwardly inclined arm 31, the lower end of which is turned at an angle and has a foot rest 32 which projects in convenient reach of the feet of a person sitting in the swing seat when it is on the platform 24.

Secured to one side of the tiltable platform 24 by the bolts 23 is a rod 33 which projects over the stationary platform 15 within con venient reach of the user.

Pivotally connected to one of the swing rods 5 is a rod 34, to the other end of which is pivotallyconnected another rod 35 which in :turn has its other end pivotally connected to the platform 15.

The operation is as follows :VVith the swing seat on the tiltable platform, as shown in 1, with the detent 25 engaged with the part 29, a person seats himself upon the swing seat and then presses down with his foot upon the foot pedal 32 which releases the 'detent and permits the platform 21 to swing downwardly and thereby free the swing. The platform 2% is restored to its horizontal position by manipulating the handle or rod 33and the swing seat is restored to its position on the platform 24 by grasping the rod 35 and oscillating the swing until it can lgegrasped and the seat placed on the :plat

orm.

Having thus described my invention, I

means operable from the platform for releasing said holding means to permit said platform to tilt to free the swing seat.

2. In an apparatus of the character described which includes a swing and its seat, the combination of an upright support, a platform hingedly connected with said support and located above the lowest elevation of said swing seat adapted to form a support for said seat, devices carried by said platform and its support for holding said platform in horizontal position, and means operable from the platform for disengaging said devices to permit said platform to swing downwardly to free said swing seat.

3. In an apparatus of the character described which includes aswing and its seat, the combination of an upright support, a platform hinged to said support above the lowest elevation of said seat adapted to support said seat, a detent between said support and platform for holding said platform in horizontal position, and foot-operated means, for releasing said detent operable by a person sit-ting on said seat when supported on said platform. I

- 4. In an apparatus of the character described which includes a swing and its seat, the combination of an upright support, a platform hinged to said support and located above the lowest elevation of said seat to form a support therefor, a bar pivotally connected with said platform, a member projecting downwardly from said support a'daptedto engage with the free end of said bar to vmainadapted to form a support for said swing seat; and two rods pivotally connected together, one of said rods being pivoted to said support in proximity to said platform and theother rod being connected with said swing whereby the swing when free from said platform may be oscillated from said support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1927.

CHARLES E. HOPPES. 

